Children & Worship

Children & Worship is held during normal services (both language services). See Worship at St. John's for more information.

Children & Worship is an exciting workshop which presents a joyful way to worship God. It invites both children and adults to experience the wonder and mystery of God through a unique storytelling format and multi sensory materials.

Children & Worship provides a unique environment where children may meet God through:

Space

The special worship centre helps children discover the quiet place within themselves where they can experience God. In the centre they are surrounded by the Stories of God and have opportunity to hear and see the stories and to work with the story materials in quiet reflection.

Order

The program has a structured time for children based on an order of worship used in most Presbyterian and Reformed churches:

  » We Gather in God's Name
  » We Proclaim God's Word
  » We Give Thanks to God
  » We Go Out in God's Name

Bible Stories

Biblical stories have been carefully chosen and written to connect with children's deepest needs. The religious language of biblical stories, parables and liturgy are translated into concrete materials which the children use to retell the stories of the Christian family. Both children and adults are drawn into the stories as they experience them in a worshipful setting.

The Children & Worship program helps young children (ages 3/4–7/8) to give language to their experiences of worship and to fully participate in worship with the rest of the congregation. Leaders are trained in the program, which is based on the book Young Children and Worship by Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman.

For further information, please contact the Church Office (see "Contact St. John's" for details and addresses).